570 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



in height at the shoulder, with horns 30 inches in length; he states 

 that the female has small horns. Ward (1935, p. 294) gives the 

 record length of horn on the front curve as 41^ inches. 



The range of this subspecies will be provisionally considered to 

 include Afghanistan and Baluchistan, extending eastward into the 

 North West Frontier Province of India and westward perhaps as 

 far as eastern Persia. Sushkin (1925, p. 148), following Nasonov 

 (1923, pp. 47-48), gives the range as "Great Balkan (Transcaspia) , 

 Kopet Dagh, and Paropamir, east to Peshawar and Kandahar," 

 but admits (p. 150) that there is some doubt as to the identity of 

 Kopet Dagh specimens. I prefer to follow Lydekker (1913c, vol. 1, 

 pp. 88-89) and Ward (1935, p. 291) in not extending the range so 

 far to the northwest. There is some indication, however, of the 

 occurrence of this form in eastern Persia in the following remark 

 by Kennion (1915, p. 63) : "The sheep found in Seistan and the 

 Kainat . . . seem to be very similar to the urial of Baluchistan and 

 the Punjab." He reports (1911, pp. 128-137) moderate numbers in 

 the Palang Koh, Seistan. 



Among the localities from which Lydekker (1913c, vol. 1, pp. 

 89-90) records specimens of cycloceros are the following: Seah 

 Koh, Afghanistan; Pishin Valley, Kelat, Pubbi Hills, and Quetta, 

 Baluchistan; hills north of Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province; 

 and Chitral. 



"During winter" they "frequently descend to the plains and val- 

 leys [of Afghanistan] in small flocks. They are pursued by the 

 hunters for the sake of the flesh, which is good and well-flavoured; 

 while the horns are placed, as are those of Goats, as trophies of 

 success, and proofs of skill, upon tombs and temples. 



"When taken young they are easily domestic ated, . . . and will 

 breed readily with the domestic Sheep." (Button, 1842, p. 517.) 



"They are gregarious in flocks of about 40" (Hay, 1840, p. 441). 



Blanford (1876, p. 87) refers to this form two specimens collected 

 at Jalk and Dizak, "Baluchistan" (now southeastern Persia), and 

 adds: "We heard of its occurrence, and saw its tracks, close to the 

 sea level on some low hills three marches west of Gwadar in 

 Baluchistan, a country with an excessive summer temperature, and 

 it is found on hills of no great height in Sind, where the climate is 

 still hotter. It is usually met with in small herds, which keep to the 

 slopes of hills and small valleys between the ranges." It may be 

 recalled here that Nasonov (1923, p. 39) provisionally extends the 

 range of 0. laristanica eastward to Persian Baluchistan. 



Thomas (in Aitchison, 1889, p. 63) records specimens "of the 

 most pronounced cycloceros type" from Gulran, Kambao, Khusan, 

 Bala-morghab, and Chasma-sabz Pass, in northwestern Afghanistan. 

 Aitchison adds (p. 64) : "This Wild Sheep ... is very numerous 



